Gaming fans can now experience the thrills of driving an all-electric racing car around some of the world’s best known circuits after the FIA Formula E Championship revealed its Spark-Renault SRT_01E is to feature in the top selling Forza Motorsport 5, available today on Xbox One.

Available as a free download in the Xbox Live marketplace, this marks the first time in video game history that a fully-electric single-seater has been featured as a playable car on a home entertainment system.

The ‘First in Forza’ announcement was made during this weeks’ gamescom gaming conference in Cologne, Germany – the world’s largest trade fair for interactive entertainment – where a full scale Formula E car was also on display.

As part of Forza Motorsport 5, fans will be able to race the Spark-Renault SRT_01E around iconic tracks throughout the world including the streets of Long Beach where the 20 Formula E drivers will compete in the inaugural Long Beach ePrix on April 4 2015.

Popular since 2005 introduction

The Forza Motorsport franchise is a critically acclaimed racing simulator made by developers Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft Studios. First published in 2005 with the release of Forza Motorsport, Forza Motorsport titles are available exclusively for Xbox One and Xbox 360 customers and have since sold more than 10 million copies.

Jaume Sallares, Sales & Marketing Director at Formula E, said: “It’s fantastic that gaming fans will be able to drive our Formula E car and experience electric racing for the first time in their own homes. The partnership with the Forza Motorsport series ties in perfectly with our desire to increase interaction with our fans through social media, offering new ways to experience motorsport by making it accessible to the general public and the chance to play a part of the racing through FanBoost.”

As well as the Forza partnership, Formula E aims to encourage interactivity via its unique FanBoost feature, which allows fans to vote for their favourite driver to receive a ‘speed burst’ during the race. In addition, selected Formula E races – such as the Long Beach ePrix – will offer free admission to help inspire fans to get involved.